Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing political attack against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during an organisational meeting in Kolkata on June 1, 2025, stirring an intense debate across political circles. Shah alleged that Banerjee opposed 'Operation Sindoor', the Centre’s military response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, to appease minority voters, further accusing her of fostering infiltration, corruption, and communal violence in the state.

The remarks by Shah come amid heightened political activity as the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections loom closer. Addressing a gathering of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, Shah targeted the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, stating that the time had come to end its rule. He claimed that Operation Sindoor, which was launched as a counter-offensive against militants, had been politicised by Banerjee solely for the sake of minority appeasement.

“To appease the Muslim vote bank, Mamata didi opposed Operation Sindoor, thereby disrespecting the mothers and sisters of this country,” Shah asserted, adding that West Bengal’s women will respond through their vote in the upcoming elections.

Operation Sindoor and the Politics of Opposition

Operation Sindoor, initiated in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, has sparked significant debate across the political spectrum. Mamata Banerjee has criticised the operation, calling it a political stunt by the Modi-led Centre. In contrast, Shah portrayed the operation as a defining military act in defense of the nation and accused Banerjee of undermining national interest.

He also accused her of being unconcerned about India’s security and letting cross-border infiltration from Bangladesh continue unchecked.

Infiltration and Border Security: BJP’s Narrative

Shah extended his criticism to accuse the TMC government of enabling infiltration to safeguard its political future. He argued that Bangladeshi infiltrators were freely crossing into Bengal and claimed that Mamata Banerjee was denying land to the Border Security Force (BSF) to erect fences along sensitive regions.

“We have asked her for land to build the fence… but she is not providing it. Why? So that infiltration continues and her vote bank thrives,” Shah alleged.

According to him, Banerjee’s intention is to enable her nephew—an apparent reference to Abhishek Banerjee—to succeed her politically. But Shah confidently declared, “This is not going to happen.”

Mamata Banerjee’s Decline is Near, Claims Shah

In his speech, Shah predicted an imminent political downfall for Mamata Banerjee, asserting that BJP would win the 2026 state elections. He said that the state’s decades-long legacy of Left rule followed by TMC governance has failed to serve the people.

“For years, Bengal was under communist rule. Later, Mamata Banerjee came to power with the slogan ‘Maa, Maati, Maanush.’ But crimes, bomb blasts, and injustice against Hindus rose,” he said.

Shah’s speech also touched on the violence faced by BJP karyakartas, claiming that hundreds had lost their lives under Mamata’s tenure, and insisted that the only solution was to elect a BJP government to “stop infiltration, curb corruption, and end Hindu exodus.”

Murshidabad Communal Riots and Allegations of State-Sponsored Violence

One of the most charged segments of Shah’s address was related to the communal riots that took place in Murshidabad in April 2025. These riots reportedly began following protests against the Waqf Amendment Act, and resulted in at least three deaths and multiple injuries.

Shah labelled the unrest as “state-sponsored violence”, and alleged that senior TMC ministers were complicit. He also criticised the Banerjee government for refusing repeated requests from the Ministry of Home Affairs to deploy BSF forces to contain the riots.

“Despite our insistence, the Bengal government did not allow BSF deployment. It was only after our workers went to the High Court and got an order that BSF could intervene,” he stated.

Further, Shah alleged that a Bengal minister abused the BSF and that the state's leaders were actively encouraging the rioters. “This was a blatant act of appeasement, and injustice was done to Hindus in Murshidabad,” Shah claimed.

Opposition to the Waqf Amendment Act

Shah also criticised Banerjee’s opposition to the Waqf Amendment Act, branding it as another attempt to cater to Muslim vote banks. He said that reforms in Waqf governance were necessary to ensure transparency and curb illegal encroachments, yet Mamata stood against it, furthering her appeasement politics.

According to Shah, the Waqf issue and the Murshidabad riots are interconnected, with the government choosing to shield offenders and sideline justice.

BSF and the Question of Land Allocation

Responding to TMC allegations that BSF failed to control border infiltration, Shah pointed out that the state government has not allocated the required land for BSF infrastructure and operations.

“Once land is allocated, we will stop infiltration completely,” he declared, claiming that Mamata Banerjee deliberately refuses to hand over land to ensure continued illegal entries that benefit her politically.

A Call for Change in 2026

Shah concluded his address by encouraging BJP workers and the people of Bengal to rally behind the BJP’s vision for a corruption-free, infiltration-free state. He reinforced the BJP’s commitment to national security, Hindu rights, and transparent governance.

“Mamata Didi’s time is up. People are watching. In 2026, Bengal will choose truth, security, and dignity. And that’s what BJP stands for,” Shah declared to roaring applause.

This speech marks a significant moment in the pre-election political narrative of West Bengal. With accusations of minority appeasement, state-sponsored violence, and corruption, Amit Shah has clearly laid the groundwork for an aggressive BJP campaign in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly polls.

As political temperatures rise in the state, the implications of Shah’s statements—ranging from Operation Sindoor to BSF deployment and communal tensions—are likely to dominate the political discourse in the months to come.

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